3.31.2013

Easter 2013

 We began our Easter festivities with a neighborhood egg hunt.  The large city park by our house was the perfect place for the event!  They had an area roped off for children 3 and under.
Here's Ali and James, scoping out the scene.
 It has been the most beautiful weekend and we were so grateful for the awesome weather.
 Ali's game face!
Action shot!  Check out that form!
 Holding up her basket to show us her eggs.

What's in my basket?
More importantly, what's in your basket?







 That evening we retreated to our favorite location- the mountains, our natural habitat.
We feasted on Gogurts and hot dogs.  
 Daddy at the "grill".
 James' sweet smile!
 Loving life on God's beautiful creation!
 "Look, it's an elephant!"  I love her creative mind!
 We climbed every rock we saw!

 Part detective, part geologist.
 A discovery... It was an ant!

 The photo below was taken by Ali.  Very artsy! 
 Easter morning we had a delicious, quick breakfast before church.  There's not much food on the plates.  I think it was coming out of the oven right then.
 The kids got dressed in their Easter attire and then looked for their Easter basket which the Easter bunny hid in the pantry.
 I love these little bunnies!

 They loved these big balloons!

 They both looked so adorable!  They are the sweetest little people I have ever known!
You always have to have a crying picture, right?


 We had a very happy Easter and the best part was when we asked Ali what we were celebrating and she said, "Jesus!"  That's a proud mommy moment right there!  We did celebrate Jesus.  For weeks leading up to Easter we looked at pictures of Jesus, we read stories and color pictures about the true meaning of Easter.  They had fun hunting for eggs and looking through their baskets and loved hearing the Easter story over and over.  Both of the talks in church today were very powerful and I felt the spirit so strongly as they spoke of the sacrifice that the Savior made in the Garden of Gethsemane and on the cross.  I know that Jesus Christ suffered for all of our sins and that we have the opportunity to be made clean.  I also know that after three days, he was raised from the dead and made it possible for each of us to be resurrected.  Or as Ali says, "Everybody has a body!  Mommy has a body, Daddy has a body, Ali has a body, Jamesy has a body!"  My favorite part of the Easter story is when Mary comes to the tomb and the angel says, "He is not here: for he is risen." Matthew 26:6  I can hardly say that scripture without choking up.  I'm grateful for this season when we can focus on the miracle of the resurrection and atonement.